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Steve Torrence raced his way to the Top Fuel victory Sunday in the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Zmax Dragway.
Ron Capps (Funny Car) Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the sixth event on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Torrence piloted his Capco Contractors dragster to a 3.783-second pass at 323.89 mph for the ninth victory of his career and first of the season. He defeated current points leader, Leah Pritchett, eight-time world champion, Tony Schumacher and Terry McMillen in the final round.
“This is the same as winning a race that you had to pedal it every round or you had to win it on holeshots,” Torrence stated. “This is a driver’s race. We race 24 races a year and one of them we race four-wide. It’s completely different when you come in here; you’re mentally challenged.”
Capps, the current Funny Car world champion, ran a 3.933 at 322.65 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger for his first NHRA Four-Wide Nationals win of his career, second consecutive this season and 52nd of his Funny Car career. Teammate, Jack Beckman took second place, J.R. Todd finished third, and teammate Matt Hagan placed fourth.
“This is a fun race,” Capps said. “I’ve got a great racecar. To be in a car and to have it throw you back with that many g-force and realizing the temperature that track is and still feeling that six g’s and thinking ‘how on God’s earth are these two Goodyear’s (tires) sticking to that ground?’ It’s an amazing feeling.”
With the victory, Capps takes a 43-point lead over his teammate Hagan.
In Pro Stock, McGaha picked up his fifth career victory and first at zMax Dragway when he ran a 6.591 at 210.44 in his Harlow Sammons Chevy Camaro. He bested Greg Anderson, Shane Gray and Drew Skillman in the final round.
“Now it looks like we’ve got some momentum and it’s kind of hard to swallow,” McGaha said. “To me, I’ve always said you’ve got to have power to win in this game. You’ve got to have enough smoke to win. This one showed us we have a lot of power and that’s why we came here.”
Tonglet rode his Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki to a 6.864 at 195.00 pass to earn his 10th career victory and first of the season. He defeated three-time world champion, Eddie Krawiec and, Andrew Hines on his way to his first four-wides win.
“It’s just unbelievable what we’ve come through this weekend alone,” Tonglet stated. “With the four-wides you just have to be prepared for anything. You just have to concentrate because if you lose your train of thought it’s going to be bad.”
This win also marks the first victory for Tonglet since joining the White Alligator Racing headed by Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Jerry Savoie.
The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series raced at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals for the first time in the history of the category and Mike Castellana powered to the event win. This is the third of 12 events on the schedule and this weekend’s Pro Mod event was co-sponsored by JEGS.com and Plugfones.
This is the first win of the season for Castellana and his second final round appearance.
“I’ll tell ya, it was awesome,” Castellana said. “First time coming out here, you’re a little worried about how to drive and what’s going to happen. But when you got a team like I do, it just makes everything go real smooth.”
Castellana defeated Troy Coughlin, Michael Biehle II and Jonathan Gray in the final. Castellana retains his points lead in the category.
Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster
Sunday’s final results from the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the sixth of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel – Steve Torrence, 3.783 seconds, 323.89 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 3.874 seconds, 309.13 mph and Leah Pritchett, 3.796 seconds, 318.84 mph and Terry McMillen, 4.650 seconds, 171.23 mph;
Funny Car – Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.933, 322.65 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.959, 320.05 and J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 4.103, 307.72 and Matt Hagan, Charger, 8.820, 93.67;
Pro Stock – Chris McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 6.591, 210.44 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.614, 209.56 and Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.648, 209.33 and Drew Skillman, Camaro, foul;
Pro Stock Motorcycle – LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.864, 195.00 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.821, 195.31 and Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.902, 194.16 and Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, broke;
Pro Modified – Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 5.807, 249.35 def. Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.849, 238.55 and Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.826, 250.27;
Top Alcohol Dragster – Shawn Cowie, 5.328, 272.94 def. Justin Ashley, 5.362, 273.39.
Top Alcohol Funny Car – Johan Lindberg, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.551, 260.66 def. Steve Gasparrelli, Chevy Camaro, 5.602, 261.93.
Competition Eliminator – Bruno Massel, Chevy Cobalt, 7.024, 179.35 def. Patrick Ross, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.749, 174.68.
Super Stock – Peter Biondo, Pontiac Firebird, 9.680, 127.86 def. Joe Lisa, Chevy Camaro, 10.356, 128.48.
Stock Eliminator – Kyle Kohr, Chevy Camaro, 10.737, 117.25 def. Jeff Hairrington, Ford Mustang, 10.165, 130.78.
Factory Stock Showdown – Peter Gasko Jr, Chevy Camaro, 8.262, 164.23 def. David Barton, Camaro, 8.227, 164.91.
Super Comp – John Labbous Jr, Dragster, 8.909, 167.43 def. Franklin DiBartolomeo, Dragster, 8.916, 164.61.
Super Gas – John Labbous Jr, Chevy Corvette, 9.895, 156.50 def. Matt Tankersley, Pontiac GTO, 9.883, 154.63.
Top Dragster – Ivey Brannon, Dragster, 7.148, 183.37 def. Alan Kenny, Dragster, 6.243, 218.41.
